Blood specimen container

ABSTRACT

A novel container for the collection and storage of capillary blood is disclosed. The container meets the requirements for the collection of minute quantities of capillary blood, safe storage thereof without contaimination from airborne contaminants and ready accessibility of the entire specimen when removal is desired.

PATENTEDSEP Jams SHEET 1 OF 2 SHEET 2 [IF 2 t 3 ,902,477 1 2 BLOOD SPECIMEN CONTAINER DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I The containers of the invention are conveniently fabl. Field of the Invention ricated-by conventional methods, employing conven- The invention concerns storage contai d m '5 tional materials which are inert to blood or reagents specifically concerns a novel containerfor the'collec- Q a y mixed with blood specimens for 8* tion and storage of capillary blood specimens. nosfic purposes- The term inert as used herein means 2 Description fh p5 that the material does not react with or in any way ad- Recem adyahccs in analytical instirummation have versely affect the blood specimen to be stored therein. made it posgible to c'arrybut a varigty of m g l0 E xamplesof inert materials are glass and plastics such chemical and toxicological diagnostic procedureson as -R' P very small quantities of ,blood'. thereby obviating the ,crylate P E a i n need to withdraw venous blood f patiemSJnSt-ad rial for fabricating the containers of the mviention since the smaller. quantities of "blood l'conveniently tobtained T5 PF X EE WP S 9 ;P i from capillary blood sources such as fromf'a fingertipr fi a 1?i"" E as l g i or ear lobe maybe used for diagnostic examination. ate commo-n y empoye 'l'coagu'an s or t a 1 1 the stroageof capillary blood specimens.

Prior hereto,themostw1dely used container for colv 1 r 1 l bl hob M r The tubular containers of the invention are coni s :Fg 3 my 3 if; 3 a vstructecl so as to have aminimum inside bore diameter i W u r. w fl elcdnontq f of about 7.5 mm. Smaller diameterbores are generally m -P. 3g??? 9g i v undesirable in thatblood specimens may' not travel to pmfic'encypn I "i of? in dp if f wmg "1 the lower end of'the tube, therebyprevcntin'g an'accu- Pockets are to b f o F i h min-nary rate estimation of the volunie'ofblood collected; The relatively fragng l f i ?5 Sm? tubular containersof theinvention are constructed so 38 of relatively q l s f p lla y b ii 5 as to have a volume capacity of between 200 microlithe Order for example 0 m g cr s 9 sap ters to about 1000 'microlitershThus the tubular con- 'y tubes must "t d! I fid il t d 3"! p tainer may be constructed with any length and diamecapiliary tubes is often difficult to removefsince the ter consistent with this requirement. biQOd Q D 9! Mi g t p ls l'yW wh t Theimproved containers or the invention will now be the-bloo i a fanti qq s an further describedand exemplified by reference to the Although the need for an improved container f 1 various specific embodiments set forth in the drawings. lecting jandsto l l capillary; blood h asi obvlpusg FIG. I is a crossfsectional side elevation of an emthere have beenfew attempts to satisfy th :ne'ed (see;1-- bodirnent of the inventionLjThe container depicted for example U.S. ra 'sNo mozs,4v7smpe m moi 'ofQ comprisesa straightb'ody portion 10 having a fixed clomy invention fulfills this needand provides an; insure 12 adjacentto a firstiend, and an open end 25. The proved storage containerr designed specificallyfor the W ll n ends of the tubular body define a bore 12 collection, storageand safe handling of capillary blood t ch lhasya mg mum t am t r f about mgC e H cum'scribin'gthe.interior surface ofthe body Itiatja pot a a 1 sitio ad" ntto'jopen end areinwardly directed BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THEDRAWINQS ribs 'ISaand-ISb respectively; The functionofribsISa FIG; 1 is a crossfsectional viewl oi a container of the; dx s prqvidf surface 9 ciosuiie invention showing the closure removed from the body 28 wh 33 -9 9 i "1 f 'm ofthe h i I a l a pp v sealing feature spart cularly important for safeguard- FlG.2 i s an enlargedfragmentarysection ofthe con- Q'S g MWPQ? m? 3"? i f t to the tainerof theinvention showingthe:closurein place; i F tg tfit-w a -?91 afttfm m afi l f g FIGS is a crossfsectionallvie'w of a contain'ercon-vf- JSEY'SESEF S F is a out structed according to the'invcntionand having'preef v y 00 pee i f a rel a v it i quired. butany multiple number may be employed. ferred embodiments. t 3. w ,l

i d w-ohh c main Shawn? so conststent w thtthe"size of the container-stopper. ln

"P i 19 t Y' 9 9 general tw JribsIS are p referredrlt will be observed i F f9??? 2": 9'3 9939? w a fro-111510. 1 that as is a. taperedi;tubular RYO T VENTION I 'bodyih'aving a'narrowend26aThe'outer circumference The s is t? F l t t "F :r'opo ngis "ii-r o as; insertion and iq F ??ttq t "WWPFQWPW up'pe broader en d 2 7 of-closure 28wisopening 30 a st a e! b d t flv fl a fit f 9t fii ls "and jhasanloutsidelcircumferenceexceedingtheinside w a r We s ab asl ra'ata 999P 3925" s t iiihftsh s o iaqbsl 5 ih s p s a" stop at lea i y d e ed: by rqyms tgbws bs upon inse rti on ofclosurezaintoopening2$. Radially Q 3 of sald dy at q p mq fl sh wt fdispo'sediaround end 27-a t opening30of closure 28 Said Second end; saidt u dyj s mns"a b9"? o there ,isflange Flange 29 provides a convenient substantially unif rml m wh ch Si f F a h s grasping surface for the ready removal of closure 28 7.5'mm.and has a olu e of belweefi ab '299 mi fromopening 25. FIG. Ialso shows a concave closed liters to about 1000 microliters when closed at s aidse ce d 12 of tub 10,1hi i a r f r d bodi ond end; said closure comprising a. taperedtubular which provides a recess 22 between end 12 and body body. fixedly closed at its narrowest endfopen at its I0. This recess provides a small cup area which permits broadest end and having a flange radially disposed the-ready'removal of the complete blood specimen by therearound. i y withdrawal with asyringeQAlso shown in FIG. I is a lip blood,.isthenallowed to drip by gravity 'injtothefcort- "bular body.

member 20 circumscribing opening 25. Lip 20 provides ti-coagulant such as heparin, sodium oxalate or the like an additional sealing'area when closure 28 has been inmay be added to the'container prior to collecting blood serted to its full length in opening 25. Flange 18 shown therein; circumscribing opening -25 is another preferred emin a similar manner capillary blood may be collected bodiment and provides'a surface for retaining thecon- 5 for storage'from other sources of capillary blood such tainers of the invention in a centrifuge for centrifugaas for example from the ear lobe of a mammal, the heel tion-when that is desired. i I t ori toe of humans and from the tail of a mouse or rat.

Referring now to FIG; 2 there are seen detailsof clo What is claimed is: I i sure 28 when emplacedina sealing position within 3 l. A3c'ontainer for collecting and storing capillary opening 25. As can be seen,- the thin resilient wall l7 10 blood specimens, which comprises: is forced inward by ribs 150 and b and provide a tight a straight tubular body having a fixed closure adjaseal between closure 28 and tubular body wall 10. 1" cent to a first end;

FIG. 3 illustrates a number of preferred embodiments a movable closure at a second end; in the containers of the invention. As seen here. closure and at least one inwardly directed rib cireumscrlbing 28 is attached by tab 50 to the body of tube 10 and 15 the interior surface of said body at a position 'adjamore specifically at flange 18. The attachment of clo l cent to said second end;'-' r I sure 18 to the body of thecontain'er provides a means said tubular body idefininga boreof'substantially uniof assuring that the closures-are alwaysreadilyla ailform diarneter which measures at least7.5'mm. and able. H0. 3 also shows a preferred embodiment in'a 'has a yolume of between 200 microliters to about cup shaped fixed closure 40iwhich is located slightly :0 loOQmicroliters when closed at said second end; within the body of tube 10. The. cupshapedfixed botsaid closure comprising a tapered tubular; body tom closure makes the .remo altof bloocl specimens by .fi xedly closed at its narrowestlend, open at its a syringe. more conjerli entland complete. That portion broadest end and ha ing a flange radially disposed of-'t ube',-10 which-extends beyond the fixed closure 7 there'arounid,theside wall of said closure tubular 40 is a base skirt which provides a stable means for. 25. body fiand rib'f. cooperating ineffecting a seal standing the container of the iny entionon aflat surface: whereby to safeguard thecqntents; of said con.

and is apre'fer'red embodiment of @the inye'ntion. 1 FlGL 4 is anoveralltop view of thei containershown' in PK]. 3 but with closure 28 in ari open position and j ".gp'olyethyleneq U L illustrates the integral connection between closure 3o; fa'wA container' according. to claim '1 wherein said 28 and flange 1 8. f Q] straightf tubularbody has a flange radially disposed FIG 5 illustrates the use of container ofth e'inyen 3 around the exterior of saidjsecond en d-. tion in collecting capillary bloodfrom the finger'of a. [5 1'4.'A'containeraccordin'gtoclaiml wherein there are huinan..After iancing the subjects finger in .the usual v 'ftwo,inwardlyfdirected ribs. I manner and wiping awayth e" first fewidrop s of blood'as 35 "5."Acontaineraccording to claim 1 "wherein said clois conyentionally done the container of theinvention sure is attached tosaid straight tubular body. is held beneath the epidermal' 'wound and the .fin ger-' "I '6. A" c ontainer according to claim 1 wherein-said massaged to. produce-blood. The desired ,quantityof flied closure formsa cup'wholly within said straight tutainerl-fromiexposure to'the atmosphere.

tainerQlfthe blood istobe kept the fluid state, anan- 4o I"? I a 2. A cont ainer, according'to claim 1constructed of 

1. A container for collecting and storing capillary blood specimens, which comprises: a straight tubular body having a fixed closure adjacent to a first end; a movable closure at a second end; and at least one inwardly directed rib circumscribing the interior surface of said body at a position adjacent to said second end; said tubular body defining a bore of substantially uniform diameter which measures at least 7.5 mm. and has a volume of between 200 microliters to about 1000 microliters when closed at said second end; said closure comprising a tapered tubular body fixedly closed at its narrowest end, open at its broadest end and having a flange radially disposed therearound, the side wall of said closure tubular body and rib cooperating in effecting a seal whereby to safeguard the contents of said container from exposure to the atmosphere.
 2. A container according to claim 1 constructed of polyethylene.
 3. A container according to claim 1 wherein said straight tubular body has a flange radially disposed around the exterior of said second end.
 4. A container according to claim 1 wherein there are two inwardly directed ribs.
 5. A container according to claim 1 wherein said closure is attached to said straight tubular body.
 6. A container according to claim 1 wherein said fixed closure forms a cup wholly within said straight tubular body. 